Francesco Totti will retire at the end of the season

Roma have made the announcement that Francesco Totti will retire at the end of the season, 24 years after he debuted for Roma as their youngest player ever.

Totti, 40, has made more than 600 appearances for the club since his debut in 1993, but has made only one start in Serie A this season for Roma coach Luciano Spalletti after being awarded a one-year extension in 2016. The other of his 24 appearances this season were mostly as a substitute.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Roma’s new sporting director, Monchi, confirmed that this would be Totti’s last season as a player but added that he could work closely with the former Italy international once the World Cup winner hangs up his boots.

“In terms of Totti, I already knew that there was an agreement with the club that this would be his final year as a player, then he’d start as a director,” he said.

“Francesco is Roma, I want to be as close to him as possible. I’d love to learn even 1% of the huge amount that he knows.”

Totti, when asked whether Roma’s 3-1 defeat against Lazio on Sunday had been his last derby, the veteran said that it was not up to him and that “other people” were making those claims.

But as it were, Totti’s final game will be on Sunday, 28 May against Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico, after winning two Serie A titles as well as the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa on two occasions each during his 24 years with Roma.

The player has also represented Italy at all levels from under-15, scoring nine goals in 58 senior appearances before his retirement after winning the World Cup in Germany.